Who won the Accessible Edinburgh Festivals Award?

It’s been a jam-packed month of shows, street-performers, events and fun in Edinburgh; and now we’re excited to announce the winners of the Accessible Edinburgh Festivals Award 2017! This year’s most accessible venues spanned the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Edinburgh International Book Festival over a fun-filled August on the doorstep of Euan’s Guide HQ.

Most Accessible Large Permanent Venue

Photo: Royal Lyceum Theatre.

If you attended the Edinburgh International Festival this year, you may have visited the winner of the Most Accessible Large Permanent Venue: the Royal Lyceum Theatre! The theatre was commended for the range and quality of disabled access information available before visiting, its front of house service and its commitment to providing alternative formats for performances including live audio description, touch tours, BSL, captioned and relaxed performances.

“I’m thrilled The Lyceum has been recognised by Euan’s Guide. I’m so proud of our work and want to share it with everyone. That’s why we’re always striving to improve our access to the theatre and to create an inclusive experience of the plays we make. This award is a tribute to the welcome our Front of House team provide and I hope it also encourages more people to come to The Lyceum in future.” David Greig, Artistic Director at Royal Lyceum Theatre.

Most Accessible Small Permanent Venue

Photo: Scottish Storytelling Centre event ‘Tales from Peru’.

This year’s winner of the Most Accessible Small Permanent Venue can be found on the Royal Mile. The Scottish Storytelling Centre hosted numerous Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows, and the accessible experience delighted judges. With a warm welcome, great space and accessible facilities, the experience was described as subtle but made all the difference for an enjoyable visit.

“The Scottish Storytelling Centre strives to be an inclusive and welcoming venue for all, so we are all absolutely delighted to be awarded Small Venue Winner from Euan’s Guide”. Lindsay Corr, Marketing and Communications Manager.

Most Accessible Pop-up Venue

Photo: BSL-interpreted event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

For a second year in a row, The Edinburgh International Book Festival has won the Most Accessible Pop-up Award! Proving to be one of the city’s most accessible festival venues, the tented village impressed judges with its accessible environment of boardwalks, grass matting, accessible seating positions and the best pop-up accessible toilet facilities of the festivals.

“Improving accessibility is fundamental to everything we do at the Book Festival and our team who build the festival in Charlotte Square Gardens and our new Garden extension onto George Street have worked hard to create an environment that is welcoming for all our visitors. We strive to be innovative and to take advantage of the latest technology, and this year have been delighted with the response to our new live subtitling of events in the Main Theatre. We are thrilled to receive these awards from Euan’s Guide which recognise the Book Festival team’s work in this field.” Sophie Moxon, Executive Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Euan’s Guide Spirit of Inclusion Award

Scooping two awards this year, The Edinburgh International Book Festival came out on top again! Paul Ralph, Director of Access and Inclusion at Euan’s Guide explains why:

“Participation in the events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival was and indeed felt very inclusive for everyone, no matter what their access preferences. The notable characteristic was the staff and their spirit of inclusion. Nothing was too much trouble, the whole site was accessible, and the enthusiasm to make visitors feel welcome infectious. On so many levels, the ‘Book Festival’ has gone beyond addressing the environmental access and succeeded in not only being accessible, but being inclusive with a welcome for everyone.”

What do you think?

If you attended a show at a venue with excellent disabled access, tell others about it on Euan’s Guide! We’re sure the venue will be delighted to hear about it too. Write a review >>